Teach Your Children to Choose God Instead of god

When I was 2 years old, my mom let me make my own decisions. She’d let me choose what to wear each day. She’d let me pick out what I wanted when we went shopping.

The catch was this. She’d only let me choose from what she’d already chosen. I was only given 2-3 good options. There were no bad choices allowed in the mix. Everything was appropriate for the occasion and the weather.

Every choice she ever gave me was that way. I got to choose lunch. My choices may have been a cucumber and onion sandwich or a tomato sandwich, but I got to pick. She taught me to choose, but she only let me choose well.

Where God is concerned, what choices to you give your children? Is it the choice to go to church or not? Is it the choice of what church? Is the choice between God and another god?

These are choices God expects you to make for your family.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15

Joshua made the decision for his whole house. He was the spiritual head of his home, and it was his job to do that. It was settled.

Do you let your children make their own decision about serving the Lord? Yes, ultimately they will have to choose for themselves, but while they are under your roof, do you see to it that they are in church? Do you teach them of your God? Or, do they get to choose for themselves?

If you give your teenage gamer the option to stay home and play video games, what do you think he will choose if you have not ever made it a priority to serve the Lord? You must make it plain that you and your family serve the Lord.

This nonsense that is going around about letting children decide for themselves is just that – nonsense. We are called to teach our children.

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
Deuteronomy 6:1

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7

LIFE APPLICATION

Today’s challenge is to ask God to show you if your family has made serving God a reality. Do you view serving the Lord as an option? Or, is it settled? Do your children have the option to choose between serving the Lord and doing something else? Do you pick their church? What boundaries do you need to establish for them?

Regardless of popular opinion, it is your God given authority to make the choice where your children are concerned. More than that, it is your duty.